Electric signal for mine-shafts



(NoModeL) P. W. BAOORN. ELECTRIC SIGNAL FOR MINE SHAPTS.

No, 479,046. Patented July 19, 1892.

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FREDERICK WV. BAGORN, OF MARYSVILLE, MONTANA.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL FOR MlNE-SHAFTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,046, dated July 19, 1892. Application filed February 27, 1892. Serial No. 422,995. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. BAOORN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marysville, in the county of Lewis and Clarke and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Signals for Mine-Shafts, which are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, and in which the fig ure shows a section of a mine-shaft with an elevator-cage in it provided with myiinproved electric signaling device.

The object of my invention is to provide an electric signaling device for cages of mineshafts, elevators and other like vehicles to which it may be applicable, whereby signals may at any and all times be made from the cage to the engineer or other parties outside of such vehicle. As atpresent constructed, there is a rope from the bell in the engineers room which runs down to the bottom of the shaft, generally outside of the cage, which must be caught by the hands and pulled to ring said bell, a device which is very unreliable and its operation is always more or less difficult when the cage isin slight motion, depending both on its direction and speed, and is impracticable when the cage is running at its usual or required speed. To overcome said difficulties, I have contrived an electrical apparatus, which is constructed substantially as follows, namely:

The cage to is held by the usual guides or ways Z), and raised by a rope h, passing over a sheave to a drum wound and unwound by an engine 1', all of which said parts may be of any known construction. Into the shaft of the mine is passed a wire (I, insulated from the shaft-timbers and open at its-lower end, as shown, and in which the upper end is connected to an electric bell c orother signaling device, which is connected through a wire (1 to earth. On the cage or, as here shown, under its floor is carried a battery 0, of which one pole is connected to a trolley f, which connects that side of the battery with said wire d. To the opposite pole of the battery is connected a wire h, which runs up through the cage, and its upper end is connected to the wire hoisting-rope h, which, through the operatingmechanism t', connects to earth, thus completing the electric circuit of the battery, as shown. In said wire h and in a suitable place in the cage is placed a push-button g to make and break said circuit.

hen for any reason the electric circuit cannot be made through the hoisting-rope of the cage a or for other reasons may be desired, a second open wire (Z like the wire (Z, may be put into the shaft and connected to earth at its upper end, as shown. Said wire is then put into the circuit through the wire h above thepush-button g, which is connected to a trolley f. Said wire (1 and trolley f and a short piece of the connecting-wire 7t are shown in broken lines, so as to distinguish them clearly from the other parts before mentioned.

It is not necessary that the battery 0 be placed on the cage or vehicle, because it may readily be placed at any convenient point in the circuit, as in the wires d or (Z or in the wire (1 as at (c, it only being necessary in such case to observe that the battery must be placed above the uppermost point reached by the cage at its upper position. \Vhen, therefore, the circuit is closed, the return-current will be established through the earth and the signaling device will be operated while the cage is in motion.

hat I claim is The combination, with a mine-shaft and an electric wire therein extending through its length, electrically open at its lower end and connected at its upper end with signaling mechanism, and a cage provided with a trolley on said wire, of a second open wire extending through the length of the shaft, and a trolley thereon, and a push-button electrically connecting said trolleys and wires, said wires completing the circuit through said signaling mechanism, substantially as specified.

FREDERICK TV. BACORN.

Witnesses:

WM. ZIMMERMAN, ANTON FOUGNER. 

